Bhupen Hazarika centenary: Assam opens e-pass registration for Nov 29 Delhi event
Synopsis
The Assam government has opened online registrations for the grand closing ceremony of Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary at Bharat Mandapam on 29 November — an event PM Modi will attend and at which Usha Mangeshkar will receive the Bhupen Hazarika National Award. With a 5,000-person capacity and a hard deadline of 20 November, fans of the Sudhakantha have a narrow window to secure their free e-pass.
Key Takeaways
Assam government launched the online registration portal on 6 November 2026 for the Bhupen Hazarika birth centenary closing ceremony.
The event is scheduled for 29 November at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi , from 6 pm to 8 pm IST ; attendees must report by 5 pm .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and will confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award on singer Usha Mangeshkar .
Registration is free; last date is 20 November or earlier if capacity is reached.
E-passes available to download from 12 November .
The event is expected to draw around 5,000 people ; the e-pass is personal and non-transferable, and travel costs are not reimbursed by the state.
The Assam government on Friday, 6 November 2026, launched an online registration portal for people wishing to attend the grand closing ceremony of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary celebrations, scheduled for 29 November at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled the portal at Dispur, setting in motion a structured e-pass and security verification process for a programme that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.
How to Register
The registration process is open to admirers of Bhupen Hazarika from Assam, other parts of India, and abroad. Applicants must verify their mobile number via an OTP and submit basic personal details along with a copy of their Aadhaar card. Registration alone does not guarantee entry — all applications will undergo scrutiny and security verification before an e-pass is issued.
Successful applicants will be able to download their personalised e-pass from 12 noon on 12 November. The last date for registration is 20 November, although the portal may close earlier if capacity is reached. The e-pass will carry a QR code, and selected visitors must complete a selfie-based verification by scanning it via their mobile phones. At the venue, the QR code must be presented alongside an original photo identity document at the entry gate. The pass is strictly personal and non-transferable.
Event Details and Security Protocol
The closing ceremony is scheduled from 6 pm to 8 pm IST on 29 November, with all attendees required to report by 5 pm to complete security clearance. The event is expected to draw around 5,000 people, including artistes, students, and distinguished guests. Entry is completely free of cost, Chief Minister Sarma confirmed. However, visitors will need to arrange and bear their own travel and accommodation expenses — the state government will provide no reimbursement.
What the Ceremony Will Feature
The event will showcase leading national and Assamese artistes in a musical tribute to the legendary singer and cultural icon, widely revered as Sudhakantha — 'the golden-voiced one'. Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award on renowned singer Usha Mangeshkar at the ceremony, adding a formal state recognition dimension to what is otherwise a cultural celebration.
Significance of the Centenary
Bhupen Hazarika, who was born on 8 September 1926, remains one of independent India's most celebrated cultural voices — a singer, lyricist, filmmaker, and poet whose music bridged Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi-speaking audiences. Awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019, his centenary year has seen a series of commemorative events across the country. The Bharat Mandapam closing ceremony at the national capital marks the culmination of a year-long tribute. Notably, the choice of New Delhi as the venue for the grand finale underscores the Centre's intent to project Hazarika's legacy as a national — not merely regional — cultural inheritance.
Point of View
With the Prime Minister presiding and a national award being conferred, is a deliberate signal that Hazarika's legacy is being claimed by the Centre as a unifying national narrative. That is not without tension: Assam's pride in Hazarika has always been deeply local, and some cultural voices have privately questioned whether the grandeur of a Delhi-centric finale serves the memory of a man who sang most powerfully about the Brahmaputra. The logistical rigour of the e-pass system — OTP, Aadhaar, selfie verification, non-transferable QR codes — also reflects the security footprint of any PM-attended event, which may inadvertently raise the barrier for ordinary fans from rural Assam who have the least resources to navigate the process or fund their own travel to the capital.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I register for the Bhupen Hazarika centenary closing ceremony at Bharat Mandapam?
Applicants can register through the Assam government's online portal using their mobile phone, verifying their number via OTP and submitting basic personal details along with an Aadhaar card copy. The last date for registration is 20 November 2026, subject to capacity; e-passes can be downloaded from 12 noon on 12 November.
Will Prime Minister Modi attend the Bhupen Hazarika centenary event on 29 November?
Yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the closing ceremony at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 29 November. He will also confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award on singer Usha Mangeshkar at the event.
Is entry to the Bhupen Hazarika centenary ceremony free?
Yes, entry to the closing ceremony is completely free of cost. However, the Assam government will not provide any reimbursement for travel or accommodation — visitors must arrange and bear those expenses themselves.
What are the entry requirements for the Bharat Mandapam ceremony?
Visitors must carry their personalised, QR-coded e-pass and an original photo identity document. They must also complete a selfie-based verification via their mobile phone before arrival. The e-pass is strictly non-transferable, and all attendees must report by 5 pm for security clearance ahead of the 6 pm start.
Who was Bhupen Hazarika and why is his centenary significant?
Bhupen Hazarika was a legendary Indian singer, lyricist, filmmaker, and poet born on 8 September 1926, celebrated for bridging Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi musical traditions. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019. His birth centenary in 2026 has been marked by year-long commemorations across India, culminating in the 29 November grand closing ceremony.
